NHC monitoring tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic for possible development next week.

June is now behind us and we had two named storms form that month: Bret and Cindy. Both had significant impacts despite the overall lack of wind energy (both systems were low-end tropical storms wind-wise) and showed us that, once again, it is the rain that we need to focus more attention on, not the wind.

Now that we are entering the second month of the Atlantic hurricane season, what can we expect? Typically July is a quiet month with little overall threat from hurricanes, especially in the early part of the month. Saharan dust outbreaks and high pressure over the Atlantic tends to keep a lid on things – in most years. Will 2017 follow “most years?” Perhaps not.

The NHC is monitoring a tropical wave way out in the eastern Atlantic that has potential for additional development over the next 5 days. In fact, the odds are at 40% in the longer term which is quite unusual for the early part of July this far east.

Take a look at my latest video blog for a detailed discussion concerning this system plus a look at what the first 10 days of July typically looks like from a climatological perspective.

Trpical storm Cindy as seen just prior to landfall in SW Louisiana. Will the early action of Bret and Cindy equal a busy rest of the season ahead? We will disucss at the 28th annual StormGeo Hurricane Seminar on July 20 in Houston, TX.

Each year I have an opportunity to speak about the work that I do in studying the impacts of hurricanes via various seminars, conferences and symposiums. It allows me to showcase the technology that has been developed to get closer to the dangerous impacts of hurricanes than ever before – all without putting myself or my colleagues in harm’s way. The results of our efforts are always compelling to see on a big screen, emanating from a high-tech projector, almost like a movie premier.

While I enjoy the privilege of speaking and presenting my work, I also relish the opportunities to learn from others. Whether it be about the future of hurricane forecasting or the latest updates from a private sector vendor (think Radarscope) or the stunning first-hand accounts of dealing with typhoons and hurricanes from the likes of Josh Morgerman, these events fuel my inner weather geek like nothing else can (except being in the eye of a hurricane of course).

Before the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season kicks in to high gear, there is one more opportunity coming up – not just for me, but for you as well.

StormGeo, a global weather decision-making, forecasting and analytics company (among other things), is hosting a seminar in fabulous Houston, Texas on July 20. The venue is none other than the brand new Marriott Marquis right in the middle of downtown Houston.

Advanced Analytics merges with decades of global weather data to form the next generation of weather forecasting, DeepStorm

And the emcee of the event? None other than former Director of the National Hurricane Center, Bill Read. He is about as good as it gets for events like this and we all look forward to seeing and working with him once again.

But there’s more to it than just being in the audience. The setting provides a unique opportunity to those who attend to mingle with not only the speakers from the list above, but with other top-notch meteorologists who know hurricanes inside and out. Chris Hebert, who heads up StormGeo’s Tropics Watch will be discussing the future of the 2017 hurricane season. Got questions after the fact? Ask him. He, and the rest of us, will be around to chat it up with the group. It’s a rare chance to really get to know the people behind the stories whether it be someone from the National Weather Service, a legend like Neil Frank, or how about someone who has been in the strongest hurricane EVER? You’ve seen Josh on TV, now meet him in person – see if he is made of steel or is in fact a real, living person (ha ha). Seriously, seminars like this afford the attendees a rare chance to really get to know the presenters like few events can.

As for me? I will be presenting a history of the technology that we use to capture not only the close-up video of even the most dangerous of storm surge events but also the all-important wind and pressure data that helps to fill in holes during landfalls where data is so badly needed. Plus, I will talk about the exciting potential behind our HURRB weather balloon project and what our chances are to finally launch in the eye of a hurricane this season. I also look forward to just sitting back and listening to the other presentations, a chance to learn more than I knew before I walked in.

So, if you’re in the Houston area or can travel there for this event, I encourage you to do so. The city is amazing, I have spent a lot of time there doing R&D work on many of our newest projects. The venue is outstanding, we’re talking about a lazy river on the roof of the place that’s shaped like Texas itself! You gotta be there – even if it’s just for that 😉

Use my special promo code: HurrSem17MARK and save 20% but you have to register before the end of June to take advantage of this discount.

If you can’t make it, no worries, follow #HurricaneSeminar and you’ll be able to keep up with what is going on via the awesome power of social media. Nothing beats live, so if you can attend, you won’t regret it and please, by all means come up and say hello, not just to me but to any of the folks who will make this seminar a memorable one, believe me, we love talking to YOU!

It took a littler longer than we’ve seen in recent years, but the east Pacific finally has its first hurricane of the season: Dora.

Top winds are 85 mph and it is forecast to strengthen more as it moves west-northwest off the coast of Mexico. Fortunately, the small size of the hurricane will mean that very little impact will be felt along the Pacific coast of Mexico.

The forecast from the National Hurricane Center indicates a steady track to the west-northwest which will bring the hurricane over cooler waters, ultimately leading to its demise later this week. In fact, sea surface temperatures in the region are running below the long-term average by almost a full degree Celsius. This will equate to a quick weakening trend as the hurricane moves farther out in to the open Pacific.

In the Atlantic Basin, all is quiet for now. I will have a new video discussion posted later this afternoon which will address topics such as the weekly SST anomalies, current ENSO update and a look back at tropical storm Cindy and its impacts to the Gulf Coast and inland areas of the Southeast.

Tropical storm Bret has moved past the Windward Islands, doing so during the overnight hours last night. Winds have increased some to near 45 mph and the movement remains at a brisk pace of 21 mph. The track forecast from the NHC takes the storm just north of the coast of South America, likely passing through the “ABC Islands” of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Interests there should expect a period of squally weather, including gusty winds and brief periods of very heavy rain and locally rough seas. Fortunately, the storm is moving fast and will clear the region in a very short period of time.

The future of Bret is likely going to short as well as upper level winds are not favorable for its continued viability. The official forecast shows Bret diminishing in intensity, eventually in to just a remnant low pressure area, in just a few days. We’ll watch and see how things play out but none of the reliable models suggest a threat to any land areas later on as the remnants of the storm move across the Caribbean Sea.

Meanwhile, what we’ve referred to as “93L” in the Gulf of Mexico is now what the NHC calls “Potential Tropical Cyclone Three” – about as close as you can get to having a named storm. It’s only a matter of time now as the latest advisory (8am ET) suggests that the system is getting better organized. I think that once we get a better look during daylight hours of the level center, the NHC will upgrade this to tropical storm Cindy later today.

I have prepared a video discussion covering both areas, you may view it by clicking the player below.

Note that I will be hitting the road for Louisiana and/or Texas later this morning for live coverage of the impacts from what will almost certainly be TS Cindy. I will be streaming the field mission live via our YouTube and Facebook Live channels. Be sure to follow on Twitter (@hurricanetrack) or get our app in the App Store (Hurricane Impact) for easy access to all of our coverage and updates on the go. I’ll embed the live video from YouTube here in a follow-up post just before I head out in a couple of hours. While on the road, I will continue to post video blogs as often as possible with live coverage continuing non-stop over the next several days.

Newly designated “potential tropical cyclone two” and the 5-day track map. What does this mean? Watch the video discussion to learn more.

It looks as though invest area 92L will go on to become a tropical storm at some point. The shower and thunderstorm activity associated with it has become better organized as today has progressed and as a result, the NHC has begun issuing advisories on it….even though it is not yet a tropical depression or a storm.

This new initiative by the NHC was slated for starting this season though I am sure not many people thought it would be implemented so soon, especially for a tropical wave out in the tropical Atlantic. This is certainly highly unusual to say the least.

I have prepared a special video discussion covering this developing situation which you may view below. I’ll have more coverage here tomorrow, including the latest concerning 93L in the NW Caribbean Sea – which is also forecast to strengthen further and likely become a tropical storm.